Snare device

ABSTRACT

An instrument for removal of an object, e.g., a blood clot lodged in a blood vessel, has a longitudinally extending support that defines an axis. The support has a flexible distal section and a rigid proximal section. The flexible distal section has a compressed state, in which it defines a first path relative to the axis. A core-wire extending along the axis has a relaxed state in which it defines a second path relative to the axis. An anchor disposed on the flexible distal section and attached to the core-wire causes the flexible distal section to follow the same path. An actuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire enables a surgeon to selectively apply a tensile force thereto. This tensile force causes the core-wire and the flexible distal section to transition together between the first path and the second path.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to snare devices, and more particularly toendovascular snaring instruments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A clot in a patient's blood vessel poses grave risks for those portionsof a patient's anatomy that are downstream from the clot. Because a clotcan inhibit blood flow, cells that rely for their nourishment on bloodpassing through the obstructed vessel can die. If those cells areparticularly essential to life, such as cells associated with the brainor the heart, the patient can also die.

When a blood clot is small relative to the blood vessel, or where theclot is obstructing a relatively minor blood vessel, the patient isgenerally in no immediate danger. Nevertheless, there does exist themore insidious danger of the blood clot becoming detached and coming torest again in another blood vessel in which its obstructive effect isless benign. Additionally, there exists the danger that small bloodclots migrating through the circulatory system will coalesce with astationary clot and thereby cause it to enlarge by accretion. When thisoccurs, a clot of negligible size can grow into a significantobstruction. This growth can occur rapidly because as the clot grows, itintroduces more turbulence into the blood flow. This turbulence tends tobreak up thrombocytes as they pass through the turbulent zone, therebycausing additional clotting.

Conventional methods of removing a blood clot rely on the introductionof medicaments, such as enzymes, that dissolve blood clots. Because theenzymes, such as streptokinase, are introduced into the bloodstream,their effects are systemic rather than local. In addition, the processof dissolving a clot is a time-consuming one during which the patientcontinues to be in some danger.

Mechanical methods of removing a blood clot have been generallyunsuccessful because of the fragility of the clot. When disturbed by aconventional mechanical device, a clot can easily fragment into smallerclots, each of which then begins migrating through the blood streambefore settling at an unpredictable location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the recognition that when one pulls on a wire,different sections of the wire can be made to stretch by differentamounts. This phenomenon is advantageously applied in a surgicalinstrument having a distal end that readily transitions from an extendedstate to a coiled state. In the extended state, the instrument can beslipped into an extremely small space, such as the space between a bloodclot and the wall of a vessel, without disturbing the clot. In thecoiled state, the instrument can ensnare the clot.

In general, the invention features surgical and other instruments thatinclude a longitudinally-extending support member that defines an axis.The support member includes a flexible distal section and a rigidproximal section. The flexible distal section has an equilibriumcompressed state and a non-equilibrium uncompressed state. In itscompressed state, the flexible distal section defines a first pathrelative to the axis.

The instruments further include a core-wire that extends along the axisdefined by the support member. The core-wire has a relaxed state and atensioned state. In its relaxed state, the core wire defines a secondpath relative to the axis. An actuator coupled to the core-wire enablesa user, such as a surgeon, to apply a tensile force that pulls on thecore-wire. This tensile force places the core-wire under tension andthereby causes it to transition from its relaxed state, in which theflexible distal section is in its uncompressed state, to its tensionedstate, in which the flexible distal section is in its equilibriumcompressed state.

The distal section of the support member includes an anchor to which thecore-wire is attached. This anchor, which can be at any point along thedistal section of the support member, provides a mechanical couplingthat enables the flexible distal section of the support member to followone of the first path, as defined by the flexible distal section in itscompressed state, and the second path, as defined by the core-wire inits relaxed state.

The core-wire has a distal section having a first yield force and aproximal section having a significantly higher yield force. In oneembodiment, the core-wire is made of a super-elastic and shaped-memorymetal. In this embodiment, the difference in yield forces is achieved byproviding a proximal section with a first cross-sectional area and adistal section with a second cross-sectional area that is smaller thanthe first cross-sectional area. The distal section of the core-wire ismade to have a relaxed state in which it traces a substantially helicalor coiled path. The flexible distal section of the support member ismade to have a compressed state in which it traces a path substantiallyparallel to the axis of the support member.

Because the two sections of the core-wire have two differentcross-sectional areas, a given force exerted by the user results in morestress in the distal section of the core-wire than it does in theproximal section of the core-wire. This results in the distal sectionexperiencing more strain, and hence greater elongation, than theproximal section. Because the distal section of the core-wire isanchored to the distal section of the support member, the additionallength of the core-wire enables the flexible distal section of thesupport member to revert to its equilibrium compressed state, in whichit extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of thesupport member.

Other methods exist of providing a core-wire having sections withdifferent yield strengths. For example, a core-wire can be made of twodissimilar materials having different yield strengths. Or a core-wirecan be locally heat-treated to change the yield stress in theheat-treated region.

To ensnare a blood clot, kidney stone, or other object, the surgeonfirst pulls on the core-wire. This elongates the distal section of thecore-wire and hence enables the flexible distal-section of the supportmember to revert to its compressed state. In this compressed state, theflexible distal-section of the support member defines a linesubstantially parallel to the axis of the support member. The surgeonthen slips the distal-section between the clot and the wall of the bloodvessel so that the distal-section of the support member is adjacent tothe clot.

Once the distal section of the support member is adjacent to the clot,the surgeon releases the core-wire, thereby restoring the core-wire toits coiled state. This causes the distal section of the support memberto also assume a coiled state, and to thereby ensnare the clot alongsideit.

The surgical instruments of the invention enable the surgeon to capturea clot and remove it from the blood vessel. In its relaxed state, theflexible distal-section gently cradles the clot within its coils. Sincethe instrument never penetrates the clot during the removal procedure,the integrity of the clot remains undisturbed. As a result, there islittle likelihood that the clot, despite its fragility, will fragment asit is removed. The surgical instruments of the invention thus provide areliable alternative to the use of systemic medicaments that slowlydissolve a clot.

Instruments embodying the principles of the invention can be used inapplications other than the removal of a clot. For example, suchinstruments can be used to ensnare and remove gall stones. In addition,such instruments can be slipped by a kidney stone and formed into abasket, or strainer, between the kidney stone and the kidney. Thisbasket can then be used to capture and remove kidney stone fragmentsduring lithotripsy. Surgical instruments according to the invention canalso be deployed as temporary stents in a blood vessel that has beenconstricted due to a vasospasm. In this application, the surgeon placesthe distal end of the support member into its extended state and slipsit through the constricted section of the blood vessel. The surgeon thenrestores the distal end to its coiled state, in which the coils of thedistal end dilate the blood vessel and restore blood flow.

Instruments embodying the invention can also be used in non-surgicalapplications. In particular, such instruments can be used in anyapplication in which it is necessary to ensnare and retrieve an objectthat is lodged in an inaccessible space. For example, such instrumentscan be designed to remove clogs from plumbing fixtures or foreignobjects from pipes, for example in a food-processing plant, without theneed to dismantle the pipes.

In other embodiments, pairs of instruments can be used together toperform tasks that would be difficult to achieve with only a singleinstrument. For example, to remove a blood clot that is on the otherside of a constricted section of a blood vessel, a first instrument canbe deployed as a temporary stent while a second instrument retrieves theblood clot after passing through the helix formed by the coils of thefirst instrument. A first instrument can also be deployed as a basketbetween a particularly delicate blood clot and the heart, while a secondinstrument ensnares and removes the blood clot. Any fragments of theblood clot are then captured and removed by the first instrument.

As used herein, the terms “rigid” means sufficiently incompressible soas to retain its form when subjected to tensile and compressive forcesbut nevertheless able to bend sufficiently to negotiate to negotiatetwists and turns in the vasculature or other flow system in which it isto be deployed.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the presentspecification, including definitions, will control. In addition, thematerials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intendedto be limiting.

The present invention thus offers the advantage of providing safe andrapid removal of obstructions disposed in difficult to access regions.By ensnaring rather than piercing such obstructions, the inventionenables the removal of even fragile obstructions without a significantdanger of fragmenting those obstructions.

The present invention further provides a temporary stent that can openup a constricted flow channels and restore flow therethrough, even whenthe constricted flow channel is relatively inaccessible.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, and from the claims. The details of oneor more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a snare according to the invention in itsextended state.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the snare in FIG. 1 in its coiled state.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the snare of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the coil section of the snare in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the coil section in FIG. 4 with thecore-wire in its extended state.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a coil section having an alternativetransition the proximal and distal sections of the core-wire.

FIG. 7 is a distal section of the coil in which the core-wire isanchored proximally from the distal end to form an atraumatic tip.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a catheter for assisting a surgeon inguiding a snare near a blood clot.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the snare of the invention extendingthrough the catheter of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the snare in FIG. 9 after having ensnareda clot.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are illustrations of steps in using the snare as astrainer to prevent migration of kidney stone fragments.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are illustrations of steps in using the snare tocapture gall stones.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are illustrations of steps in using the snare as atemporary stent.

FIG. 14 is an alternative support structure for a snare according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Surgical instruments described herein use an inhomogeneous core-wirethat, when subjected to a pulling force, stretches by different amountsat different locations. At least one portion of the wire has a relaxedstate in which it takes the shape of a coil and a tensioned state inwhich it becomes straight. This portion of the wire is attached to andcontrols the shape of a flexible portion of the instrument. The tensionon the core-wire is controlled by a surgeon selectively pulling andreleasing the wire.

Referring to FIG. 1, a surgical instrument 10 incorporating theprinciples of the invention includes a cannula 12 extending along anaxis between a distal end 14 and a proximal end 16. A flexible coilsection 18 is mounted at the distal end of the cannula 12. The coilsection 18 is capped at its distal end by an end-cap 20. Attached to theproximal end 16 of the cannula 12 is an actuator 24 operable by asurgeon to switch the coil section 18 between an extended state, shownin FIG. 1, and a coiled state, shown in FIG. 2.

The cannula 12 in the illustrated embodiment is tubular. However, thisis not a requirement. The function of the cannula 12 is to support thecoil section 18 when the surgeon applies a force sufficient to togglethe coil section 18 into its extended state. The cannula 12 can be ametal, such as any of the various alloys sold under the trade nameNITINOL™, stainless steels, or MP35N®. The cannula 12 can also be madefrom a polymer, constructed from polyimide, any of the various nylonsand polytetrafluoroethylenes such as those sold under the trade nameTEFLON®; or it can be a composite tube made from any number of polymers.In addition, the cannula 12 can encapsulate a metallic spring, braid, orsimilar structure.

As indicated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the coil section 18 is a segmentedstructure capable of articulation between segments. However, the coilsection 18 can also be any flexible section capable of freely making therequired transition between the coiled state of FIG. 2 and the extendedstate of FIG. 1. A preferred coil section 18 has an equilibriumcompressed state in which it defines a path corresponding to that shownin FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the coil section 18 and thecannula 12 are tubular structures that can be coated with a hydrophilicand biocompatible composite material such as PVP. A suitable outerdiameter for general intra-vascular use is approximately 0.014 inches.

To enable a surgeon to track the position of the instrument 10 withinthe body, the coil section 18 can be made of a radio-opaque materialsuch as Pt, W, Ir, Tn, Au, Ag, or an alloy thereof. Alternatively, thecoil can be made of coilable polymer, stainless steel, MP35N®, orsimilar a substance, in which case the coil section 18 is coated with aradio-opaque coating. The coil section 18 may be a close wound coil,with or without preload, or it may be an open wound coil. The coilsection 18 may be substituted with baffles, bellows, or any suchflexible and compressible member.

A cut-away view of the surgical instrument 10 shown in FIG. 3, reveals aportion of the structure that enables the surgeon to toggle the coilsection 18 between its coiled state and its extended state. As shown inFIG. 3, a core-wire 26 extending from the actuator 24 to the end-cap 20passes through a cannula lumen 28 and a coil-section lumen 30. Thecore-wire 26 has a proximal end 32 operably connected to the actuator 24and a distal end 36 anchored to the coil section 18. In one embodiment,an end-cap 20 functions as an anchoring element on the coil section 18and the distal end 36 is anchored to the end-cap 20, as shown in FIGS. 4and 5.

The core-wire 26 is preferably made of a shaped-memory and super-elasticalloy. Such a metal has the property that when deformed and heated pasta critical temperature, it “remembers” its deformed shape. When cooledand subjected to further deformation, such a wire springs back to thisremembered shape. A suitable super-elastic metal from which thecore-wire can be manufactured is a nickel-titanium alloy sold under thetrade name NITINOL™. In the case of nickel-titanium alloy, the criticaltemperature is in the neighborhood of 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because the core-wire 26 is anchored to both the end-cap 20 of the coilsection 18 and to the actuator 24, and because the coil section 18 isflexible, the core-wire 26 and the coil section 18 follow the same pathrelative to the axis. When the core-wire 26 is in its coiled state, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the coil section 18 is in an uncompressed statein which it follows the coiled path defined by the core-wire 26. Whenthe core-wire 26 is in its extended state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5,the coil section 18 reverts to a compressed state in which it extendsalong the axis.

The core-wire 26 need not be anchored to the end cap 20. Instead, thecore-wire can be anchored to an anchoring element 31 disposed on thecoil section 18 at an intermediate point, as shown in FIG. 7. A safetywire 33 extends distally from the anchoring element 31 to the end cap 20to prevent the coil section 18 from unravelling. This isolates anytensile force applied to the core-wire 26 to points proximal to theintermediate point and results in a coil section 18 having a floppy andatraumatic distal tip, as shown in FIG. 7. An atraumatic tip, such asthat shown in FIG. 7, is advantageous because it enables the instrumentto be maneuvered in constricted regions without a significant risk ofperforating or otherwise damaging surrounding structures.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the core-wire 26 has two sections: a proximalsection 36 that extends through the cannula lumen 28 and attaches to theactuator 24; and a super-elastic - distal section 38 that extendsthrough the coil lumen 30 and attaches to the end-cap 20 of the coilsection 18. The proximal section 36 has a yield force that exceeds thatof the distal section 38. This enables the distal section 38 toexperience more strain for a given tensile force on the core-wire 26than the proximal section 36.

For a given tensile force, the extent to which a material is stretcheddepends on its cross-sectional area. This phenomenon is familiar toanyone who has pulled on a piece of taffy and observed that the thinsection is far easier to stretch than the thick section. The extent towhich the material is stretched is referred to as “strain.” The cause ofstrain is “stress,” a quantity which, like pressure, is a force per unitarea. Stress can be thought of as pressure acting in the oppositedirection. Whereas an applied pressure tends to compress a material, anapplied stress tends to stretch a material.

For many materials, no significant strain occurs until a threshold oftensile force is reached. Once that threshold is reached, the materialresponds readily to additional force. This threshold at which a materialbegins to respond to an applied tensile force is referred to as the“yield force” of the material.

As noted above, the core-wire 26 transitions from a coiled state to anextended state because the distal section 38 of the core-wire 26 and theproximal portion 36 of the core-wire 26 have different yield forces.This difference in yield forces can be achieved by having a core-wire 26in which the distal section 38 has a smaller cross-sectional area thanthe proximal section 36. A differential yield force in the core-wire 26can also be achieved by having the distal and proximal sections 38, 36of the core-wire 26 be made of different materials. In such anembodiment, the proximal section 36 would be made of a first materialthat experiences a negligible amount of strain for a given appliedstress. The distal section 38 could then be made of a super-elasticmaterial that stretches readily in response to the same applied stress.The proximal and distal sections 36, 38 of the core-wire 26 could thenhave the same cross-sectional area but would nevertheless experiencedifferent strains when a tensile force is applied to the core-wire 26.

When a surgeon applies a proximally directed tensile force along thecore-wire 26, that force causes a stress at each point on the core-wire26. Because the distal section 38 of the core-wire 26 has a smallercross-section than the proximal section 36 of the core-wire 26, thestress experienced by those points in the distal section 38 is greaterthan that experienced by those points in the proximal section 36. Sincestrain depends on stress, the distal section 38 of the core-wire 26undergoes more strain than the proximal section 36 of the core-wire 26,and thus becomes significantly longer. This causes the distal section 38of the core-wire 26 to extend. In this extended state, the core-wire 26no longer constrains the coil section 18 to follow a coiled path. Thecoil section 18 is thus free to revert to its equilibrium compressedstate in which it extends along the axis, as shown in FIG. 5.

When the surgeon removes the proximally-directed longitudinal force,hereafter referred to as the “tensile force,” on the core-wire 26, thedistal section 38 of the core-wire 26 reverts to its relaxed state inwhich it defines a coiled path. Because the core-wire 26 is anchored tothe coil section 18, it constrains the coil section 18 to follow thecoiled path, as shown in FIG. 4.

The actuator 24 can be a handle with a trigger 27 as shown in FIG. 1. Inthis embodiment, the trigger is mechanically linked to the core-wire 26so that when the surgeon pulls on the trigger, a tensile force isapplied along the core-wire 26. However, other types of actuators can beused so long as they too apply a tensile force along the core-wire 26.For example, the core-wire 26 can have a handle attached to its proximalend 32, in which case the surgeon pulls on the handle and directlyapplies a tensile force on the core-wire 26 without any interveningmechanical linkage.

In those embodiments in which the core wire 26 is a wire made of asingle material, the diameter of the wire varies along its length. Theratio of the cross-sectional areas of the proximal and distal sections36, 38 of the core-wire 26 will depend on the material properties of thecore-wire 26. The ratio is selected such that a suitable differentialstrain can be achieved with only a modest exertion of force by thesurgeon. The diameters of the two sections of the core-wire 26 are suchthat the tensile force applied by the surgeon will be insufficient forthe core-wire 26 to lose the memory of its remembered shape. In general,this means that the tensile force must be such that the distal section38 is elongated by less than 8% of its relaxed length, and preferablywithin 2% to 7% of its relaxed length.

There exist a variety of methods for manufacturing a core-wire 26 havingtwo or more sections that differ in their yield forces. In one method, acontinuous wire made of a shaped-memory metal is ground to a smallerdiameter to form the distal section 38. The distal section 38 is thenheat-set to the desired shape. To achieve actuation of the core-wire 26,there must be a sufficient difference in the yield force of the proximalsection 36 and the yield force of the distal section 38. This isachieved by ensuring that the ratio of the diameter of the proximalsection 36 to that of the distal section 38 is about 1.35 or greater.For a core-wire 26 having a non-circular cross-section, this is achievedby ensuring that the ratio of the area of the proximal section 36 tothat of the distal section 38 is about 1.8 or greater.

The actual transition from one state to another can be viewed as a wavetraveling along the core-wire 26. The direction in which this wavetravels can be controlled by controlling the taper of the transitionbetween the proximal section 36 and the distal section 38. In the caseof a taper as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wave travels from the proximalsection 36 to the distal section 38 when the surgeon pulls on thecore-wire 26. Conversely, when the surgeon releases the core-wire 26,the wave again travels from the proximal section 36 to the-distalsection 38.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative taper in which the diameter of the core-wire26 decreases to a minimum as one proceeds distally along the core-wire26 but then increases to a maximum as the distal section 38 flares to amaximum cross-sectional area at its distal tip,In the case of thealternative taper shown in FIG. 6, the wave travels from the proximalsection 36 to the distal section 38 when the surgeon pulls on thecore-wire 26. Conversely, when the surgeon releases the core-wire 26,the wave travels from the distal section 38 to the proximal section 36.The ratio of the area of the proximal section 36 to that of the distalsection 38 at its tip is about 1.8 or greater

In another method of manufacturing the core-wire 26, the yield force indistal section 38 can be reduced by applying heat locally to thatsection, while masking the heat from the proximal section 36. In somecases, the application of localized heat to form the distal section caneliminate the need to grind the core-wire 26. In other cases, theapplication of localized heat reduces the ratio of the proximal sectiondiameter to the distal section diameter.

Another method of manufacturing the core-wire is to join a super-elasticdistal section 38 to a proximal section 36. This can be achieved bywelding or by other means. The proximal section 36 in this case can bemade of the same super-elastic alloy as the distal section 38.Alternatively, the proximal section 36 can be made of another metal oralloy such as stainless steel or MP35N®. In either case, what isrequired is that there be sufficient difference in yield forces betweenthe two sections to enable actuation of the core-wire 26.

Once the distal section 38 is formed, it is then wrapped around amandrel and heated past the critical temperature of the shaped-memorymetal. The core-wire 26 is then cooled, and removed from the mandrel.The resulting core-wire 26 has an equilibrium state in which it iscoiled as it was on the mandrel.

To accommodate different size clots, different mandrels can be used. Thepitch and number of turns of the coil can be controlled by the manner inwhich the distal section 38 is wrapped around the mandrel. The number ofturns in a coil and the pitch between turns will depend on the specificapplication. For example, when functioning as a basket for lithotripsy,as described below, the pitch angle is such that the distal section isvery tightly coiled to assure capture of most kidney stone fragments.For use as a stent, the number of coils depends on the length of theportion of a blood vessel to be dilated. For general use in removingclots, pitch angles of 15-25 degrees typically provide good results. Inpractice, a surgeon may have a set of core wires having different sizesand shapes. The surgeon, who presumably has an idea of the size of theclot, selects a core-wire 26 having a distal section 38 that, in itscoiled state, encloses a volume only slightly larger than theanticipated volume of the clot.

The shape of the distal section 38 can be customized to treat a numberof pathologies or to allow access to hard-to-reach locations in thebody. For example, depending on the shape of the mandrel and the mannerin which the distal section 38 is wound around the mandrel, the distalsection 38 can be a helix with either a closed or open end, a cone, adouble-cone shape, or any other shape that would be useful in aparticular clinical application. The clinical relevancy of the device isalso derived from the forces in the distal section 38. The forcerequired to return to the relaxed state must be optimized for theparticular clinical application. This may be accomplished by utilizingany of the core-wire variations described above.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the use of the surgical instrument 10 to remove ablood clot 40 from a blood vessel 42. As shown in FIG. 8, the surgeonpositions the catheter 43 proximate to a blood clot 40 within a bloodvessel 42. The surgeon then passes the surgical instrument 10 throughthe catheter 43 and maneuvers it toward the blood clot 40.

The surgeon then applies a tensile force to the core-wire 26 and slipsthe now extended coil section 18 between the blood clot 40 and the wallof the blood vessel 42, as shown in FIG. 9. With the extended coilsection 18 adjacent to the clot 40, the surgeon releases the tension torestore the core-wire 26 to its coiled state, as shown in FIG. 10. Asthe core-wire 26 reverts to its coiled state, it causes the coil section18 to wrap around the clot 40. With the clot 40 now ensnared by the coilsection 18, the surgeon gently removes the cannula 12, and the ensnaredclot 40, from the blood vessel 42.

The surgical instrument 10 can be used in applications other thanremoval of blood clots. For example, FIG. 11A shows the extended coilsection being passed between a kidney stone 44 and the wall of a urinarytract 46. In its coiled and uncompressed state, shown in FIG. 11B, thecoil section 18 forms a strainer 46 between the kidney stone 44 and thekidney (not shown). This strainer 46 captures any stray kidney stonefragments and prevents them from migrating into the kidney duringoperation of a lithotripsy device 47.

In another application, shown in FIGS. 12A-B, the cannula 12 is passedthrough the stomach 48 and into the gall bladder 50. In its uncompressedand coiled state, the coil section 18 can be used to ensnare one or moregall stones 52, as shown in FIG. 12B.

In yet another application, shown in FIGS. 13A-B, the coil-section 18 isslipped through a blood vessel 42 that has experienced a vasospasm. Inits extended state, the coil section 18 can pass through the constrictedsection 54 of the blood vessel, as shown in FIG. 13A. Once the distalend of the coil section 18 has traversed the constricted section 54, thesurgeon releases the tensile force on the core-wire 26 and restores thecoil section 18-to its coiled state. This results in the formation of atemporary stent 56 that dilates the blood vessel in the region of thevasospasm.

The cannula 12 and flexible coil section 18 need not be tubularstructures but can instead be open structures as shown in FIG. 14. Whatis required of the proximal section of the support member shown in FIG.14 is that it be sufficiently rigid to withstand the force exerted onthe core-wire 26.

The cannula 12, the flexible coil section 18, and the core-wire 26 canbe coated with a lubricious coating such as PTFE, or any of the varioushydrophilic coatings. Other types of coatings can also be used. Theseinclude anti-thrombogenic coatings, image-enhancing coatings, or anyother procedure-enhancing coating. The friction between the core-wire 26and the inner wall of the coil section 18 during retraction of thecore-wire 26 can also be reduced by providing a lubricious, flexibletube that resides inside the coil section 18.

A surgical instrument 10 constructed as described herein can be used fornumerous clinical purposes such as ensnaring and removing clots, emboli,or implants from the cerebral, coronary, and peripheral arteries andveins. The coil's surface area can also be useful for promoting thesolidification and adhesion of loose, uncongealed blood clots.Similarly, the device can be used in procedures such as stenting wheredistal protection is required to capture escaped emboli. The device mayhave usefulness in penetrating chronic, total occlusions and thenexpanding the occlusion. One example of this application, alreadydescribed above, is the use of the surgical instrument 10 to prop open ablood vessel that has collapsed due to spasm or dissection, whileallowing blood to flow through dilated blood vessel. The surgicalinstrument 10 can also be used as a guide-wire to cross lesions and/ordeflect and navigate through tortuous vasculatures.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

A snare constructed along the lines disclosed above has numerousapplications other than the clinical applications disclosed thus far.For example, such a snare can be used to retrieve an object that hasfallen into a drain, or to remove foreign- objects from pipes, e.g., ina processing plant. A snare according to the invention can also be usedto retrieve or remove objects from any type of confined or otherwiseinaccessible space.

The instruments can also be designed to capture and retrieve animalspecimens from confined spaces. For example, using the instrument, onecould easily maneuver through the tunnels of an ant colony to retrieve aparticular ant. A larger snare according to the invention can be baitedand deployed underground in a mole tunnel to capture moles or otherburrowing pests that might consume and destroy valuable horticulturalspecimens.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoingdescription is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Otheraspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What we claim as new, and secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. An instrumentcomprising: a longitudinally extending support defining an axis, thesupport having a rigid proximal section, and a flexible distal sectionhaving an uncompressed state and a compressed state, the flexible distalsection defining a first path relative to the axis when in thecompressed state, wherein a section selected from the group consistingof the rigid proximal section and the flexible distal section includes atube defining a lumen; a core-wire extending along the axis, thecore-wire having a relaxed state and a tensioned state, the core-wiredefining a second path relative to the axis when in the relaxed state;and an actuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire forselectively applying a tensile force thereto, the tensile force causingthe core-wire to transition from its relaxed state, in which theflexible distal section is in its uncompressed state, to its tensionedstate, in which the flexible distal section is in its compressed state.2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the core-wire comprises asuper-elastic wire.
 3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein thesuper-elastic wire comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.
 4. The instrumentof claim 1, further comprising an anchoring element for anchoring thecore-wire, the anchoring element being disposed at a distal end of theflexible distal section.
 5. The instrument of claim 1, furthercomprising an anchoring element for anchoring the core-wire, theanchoring element being disposed proximal to the distal end of theflexible distal section.
 6. An instrument comprising: a longitudinallyextending support defining an axis, the support having a rigid proximalsection, and a flexible distal section having an uncompressed state anda compressed state, the flexible distal section defining a first pathrelative to the axis when in the compressed state, wherein a sectionselected from the group consisting of the rigid proximal section and theflexible distal section includes a tube defining a lumen; a core-wireextending along the axis, the core-wire having a relaxed state and atensioned state, the core-wire defining a second path relative to theaxis when in the relaxed state, said core wire including a first sectionthat experiences a first strain in response to a given tensile forceapplied thereto; and a second section that experiences a second strainin response to the given tensile force, the second strain being greaterthan the first strain an actuator engaged to a proximal end of thecore-wire for selectively applying a tensile force thereto, the tensileforce causing the core-wire to transition from its relaxed state, inwhich the flexible distal section is in its uncompressed state, to itstensioned state, in which the flexible distal section is in itscompressed state.
 7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the core-wirecomprises: a first section having a first cross-sectional area; and asecond section having a second cross-sectional area that is greater thanthe first cross-sectional area.
 8. The instrument of claim 7, whereinthe ratio of the second cross-sectional area to the firstcross-sectional area is at least approximately 1.8.
 9. The instrument ofclaim 6, wherein the core-wire comprises: a first section made of afirst material; and a second section made of a second material, thefirst and second materials having different stress-straincharacteristics.
 10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the firstsection has a first cross-sectional area; and the second section has asecond cross-sectional area that differs from the first cross-sectionalarea.
 11. The instrument of claim 6, wherein the core-wire comprises asuper-elastic wire.
 12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein thesuper-elastic wire comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.
 13. The instrumentof claim 6, further comprising an anchoring element for anchoring thecore-wire, the anchoring element being disposed at a distal end of theflexible distal section.
 14. An instrument comprising: a longitudinallyextending support defining an axis, the support having a rigid proximalsection, and a flexible distal section having an uncompressed state anda compressed state, the flexible distal section defining, when in thecompressed state, an extended path that is substantially parallel to theaxis; a core-wire extending along the axis, the core-wire having arelaxed state and a tensioned state, and defining, when in the relaxedstate, a coiled path; and an actuator engaged to a proximal end of thecore-wire for selectively applying a tensile force thereto, the tensileforce causing the core-wire to transition from its relaxed state, inwhich the flexible distal section is in its uncompressed state, to itstensioned state, in which the flexible distal section is in itscompressed state.
 15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the core-wirecomprises a super-elastic wire.
 16. The instrument of claim 15, whereinthe super-elastic wire comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.
 17. Theinstrument of claim 14, further comprising an anchoring element foranchoring the core-wire, the anchoring element being disposed at adistal end of the flexible distal section.
 18. The instrument of claim14, further comprising an anchoring element for anchoring the core-wire,the anchoring element being disposed proximal to the distal end of theflexible distal section.
 19. An instrument comprising a flexible tubedefining a lumen, the flexible tube having a distal end and a proximalend; a core-wire extending through the lumen and having a distal endanchored to the flexible tube, the core-wire switching from a relaxedstate to a tensioned state in response to a tensile force appliedthereto, the core-wire including a proximal portion having a firstcross-sectional area and a distal portion having a secondcross-sectional area, the ratio of the first cross-sectional area to thesecond cross-sectional area being at least approximately 1.8; and anactuator engaged to a proximal end of the core-wire for applying atensile force thereto.
 20. An instrument comprising: a cannula defininga first lumen, the cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; aflexible tube defining a second lumen, the flexible tube having a distalend and a proximal end mounted on the distal end of the cannula, thesecond lumen being in communication with the first lumen; a core-wireextending through the first and second lumens and having a distal endanchored to the flexible tube, the core-wire switching from a relaxedstate to a tensioned state in response to a tensile force appliedthereto; and an actuator coupled to a proximal end of the core-wire forexerting a tensile force on the core-wire.
 21. The instrument of claim20, wherein the flexible tube is a segmented articulating tube.
 22. Theinstrument of claim 20, wherein the core-wire comprises a super-elasticwire.
 23. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the super-elastic wirecomprises a nickel-titanium alloy.
 24. The instrument of claim 20,wherein the core-wire comprises a proximal portion having a firstcross-sectional area and a distal portion having a secondcross-sectional area that is less than the first-cross sectional area.25. The instrument of claim 24, wherein the ratio of the firstcross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area is approximately1.8.
 26. An instrument comprising: a cannula defining a first lumen, thecannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a flexible tube defininga second lumen, the flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal endmounted on the distal end of the cannula, the second lumen being incommunication with the first lumen; a super-elastic core-wire extendingthrough the first and second lumens and having a distal end anchored tothe distal end of the flexible tube, the core-wire having a firstsection in which a tensile force on the core-wire results in a firststress and a second section in which a tensile force on the core-wireresults in a second stress that differs from the first stress; and anactuator coupled to a proximal end of the core-wire for exerting atensile force on the core-wire, thereby causing the first section toundergo a first strain and the second section to undergo a second straindifferent from the first strain.
 27. A method for ensnaring an object,the method comprising: applying a tensile force to a core-wire, therebyplacing the core-wire into an extended state; moving the core-wire, inits extended state, to a position adjacent to the object; releasing thetensile force, thereby restoring the core-wire to a coiled state andensnaring the object adjacent to the core-wire.
 28. The method of claim27, further comprising providing a core-wire having a distal sectionanchored to a support structure and a proximal section in communicationwith the distal section, the distal section responding to the tensileforce by undergoing a first strain and the proximal section respondingto the tensile force by undergoing a second strain that is less than thefirst strain.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing acore-wire made of a super-elastic metal.
 30. The method of claim 29,further comprising providing a core-wire having a distal section with afirst cross-sectional area and a proximal portion with a secondcross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectionalarea.
 31. The instrument of claim 6, further comprising an anchoringelement for anchoring the core-wire, the anchoring element beingdisposed proximal to the distal end of the flexible distal section.